Ignorance In His Father's Case Study

Initially, through his modern education and willingness to open his mind to other perspectives, Nick is exposed to new scientific principles that considerably contrast his father’s ideologies; which sparked conflict that slowly parted their close bond as a father and son. Mr. Solchuk’s complete disregard of his son’s education, along with Nick’s unwillingness to comply with his father’s beliefs, are the main sources of stubbornness and ignorance that make it difficult for the characters to come to terms. In Nick’s case, he grew up in a reality sheltered from foreign worldviews that contradict his father’s passed down traditions of faith; and when he learns that there are alternative perspectives that are widely accepted around the world, he
continued to open his mind to such knowledge despite his father’s constant efforts to impede him. After Nick promotes the idea of a heliocentric solar system to his family, his father comes to the conclusion that Nick is “learning rubbish in school” (272), as it contradicts his religion and the traditional ideology of geocentrism.
Mr. Solchuk has religion so embedded in his consciousness that it creates a sense of ignorance regarding what knowledge should be accepted; such ignorance is so powerful that his own son cannot break through its barrier. With that in mind, the author - Henry Kreisel - suggests that even the closest bonds can be broken through the stubbornness of one’s beliefs. Moreover, Mr. Solchuk’s judgement through his faith is further highlighted during his recollection of the past events with Nick during the conversation with the narrator; when Nick’s father exclaimed to his son to “Let not Satan come in!” (272). The “Satan” (272) that Mr. Solchuk speaks of relates to what he personifies as Nick’s education of the contemporary sciences, especially the teachings of heliocentrism. To add on to that, this statement by Mr. Solchuk emphasizes his continuous link of the real world with his religion, and the constant use of ignorance to take control rather than being open minded about his son’s choice of what knowledge to believe in. A factor that greatly encouraged Nick’s exposure to modern ideologies is his teacher, Miss, Mckenzie. During the heated argument between Nick and his father that took place in the past, we can see that Nick has great confidence in
what his teacher taught him, as he strongly believes that “Miss McKenzie never told [Nick] no lies”; even after the repeated demands from his father to not listen to her words. Such conviction also outlines Nick’s stubbornness of what he believes in, just like his father; and created the ideal conditions for what sparked such conflict between them. To add on, Miss McKenzie’s influence on Nick may have allowed him to expand his horizons, but at the cost of a rough relationship with his father. Mr. Solchuk’s enforcement of his traditional values limited Nick’s knowledge, which inevitably caused a sense of longing for a foreign influence.